EP0164317A1 - A reciprocating engine with revolving cylinders - Google Patents
A reciprocating engine with revolving cylinders Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0164317A1 EP0164317A1 EP85830107A EP85830107A EP0164317A1 EP 0164317 A1 EP0164317 A1 EP 0164317A1 EP 85830107 A EP85830107 A EP 85830107A EP 85830107 A EP85830107 A EP 85830107A EP 0164317 A1 EP0164317 A1 EP 0164317A1
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- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- cylinders
- cylinder
- engine
- head
- cylinder head
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Classifications
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
- F02B—INTERNAL-COMBUSTION PISTON ENGINES; COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL
- F02B75/00—Other engines
- F02B75/32—Engines characterised by connections between pistons and main shafts and not specific to preceding main groups
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
- F01B—MACHINES OR ENGINES, IN GENERAL OR OF POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT TYPE, e.g. STEAM ENGINES
- F01B15/00—Reciprocating-piston machines or engines with movable cylinders other than provided for in group F01B13/00
- F01B15/007—Reciprocating-piston machines or engines with movable cylinders other than provided for in group F01B13/00 having spinning cylinders, i.e. the cylinders rotating about their longitudinal axis
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
- F01B—MACHINES OR ENGINES, IN GENERAL OR OF POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT TYPE, e.g. STEAM ENGINES
- F01B3/00—Reciprocating-piston machines or engines with cylinder axes coaxial with, or parallel or inclined to, main shaft axis
- F01B3/0032—Reciprocating-piston machines or engines with cylinder axes coaxial with, or parallel or inclined to, main shaft axis having rotary cylinder block
- F01B3/0035—Reciprocating-piston machines or engines with cylinder axes coaxial with, or parallel or inclined to, main shaft axis having rotary cylinder block having two or more sets of cylinders or pistons
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
- F02B—INTERNAL-COMBUSTION PISTON ENGINES; COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL
- F02B75/00—Other engines
- F02B75/04—Engines with variable distances between pistons at top dead-centre positions and cylinder heads
- F02B75/041—Engines with variable distances between pistons at top dead-centre positions and cylinder heads by means of cylinder or cylinderhead positioning
Definitions
- This invention relates to a reciprocating engine with revolving cylinders of the type comprising an engine case, a drum member supported rotatably within the engine case, a plurality of cylinder/piston assemblies and a corresponding plurality of connecting rod/ crankshaft throw assemblies, arraged at regular intervals in the said drum member, a gear wheel keyed to each crankshaft throw and meshing with a ring gear in rolling relationship therewith, said ring gear being affixed to the engine case.
- Engines of the above type would benefit from a simplification and an improvement of the cylinder fuel intake/exhaust system, which is complicated by that, jn operation, the cylinders revolve relatively to a stationary engine case.
- UK Patent No. 140,537 discloses an internal combustion engine which operates on a two-stroke cycle wherein the fuel charge to the cylinders is taken through a hollow central shaft branching off at its base toward appropriate intake ports, whilst the burned gases are exhausted directly to the atmosphere.
- That engine in fact, includes a plurality of cylinder/piston assemblies which are structurally independent of one another as regards their fuel intake, exhaust, and ignition arrangements, and are each closed at the top by a separate cylinder head accomodating a spark plug.
- the aim underlying this invention is that of obviating the above limitations by providing a reciprocating engine with revolving cylinders which can operate on any selected thermodynamic cycle, whether endo- or exothermal, and has unitised fuel intake, exhaust, and ignition (if any) systems which are left stationary while the cylinders are revolved.
- a reciprocating engine is generally designated with the reference numeral 1, and comprises an engine case 2 formed of first and second cups 3 and 4, respectively, which are held together by screws 5; mounted rotatably within the engine case 2 is a drum member 6 having a plurality of cylinder 7/piston 8 assemblies arranged therein and a corresponding plurality of connecting rod 9/crankshaft throw 10 assemblies each attached to a respective piston by means of a gudgeon pin 11.
- crankshaft throws 10 are identical to one another and consist of a pair of crank arms 11a and 11b, respectively, justapposed and interconnected by a crank pin 12 on which the big end 9a of the connecting rod 9 is journalled; the crank arms are respectively rigid with first and second crankshaft journals indicated at 13 and 14, respectively received rotatbly in first and second crankshaft bearings, indicated at 15 and 16.
- the drum member comprises first and second portions 20 and 21, respectively, which are attached to each other and both keyed coaxially to a shaft 22.
- the first portion 20 has a plurality of bores parallel to the shaft 22 wherein the cylinder liners are mounted, the second portion 21 being formed with a corresponding plurality of hollow lobes 23 wherein the throws 10 are housed.
- Each of the cylinders 7 includes a liner 25 forming, at the remote end thereof to the corresponding throw 10, an annular ridge 26 which definesa-seat 27 on the interior of the liner 25..
- an annular seal member 28 which is slidable in the axial direction of the liner 25 and which is in constant fretting contact with a cylinder head 29 for the cylinders 7 attached to the second cup 4.
- the seal member 28 is spring biased against the head 29 by a spring 30 reacting on a shoulder 31 of the seat 27, and has a pair of grooves for sealing rings 32 for engagement with the seat 27 in gas-tight relationship.
- the annular ridge 26 is made to bear on the portion 20 of the drum member.
- a plate-like element 35 which is perforated at the cylinder locations to allow for unrestricted sliding movement of the seal members 28.
- Element 35 is tightly fitted to the corresponding annular ridges 26 by means of seal rings 36.
- the plate-like element 35 is urged elastically against the head 29 by a spring 37 encircling the shaft 22 and reacting against a spacer 38 coaxial with said shaft and bearing on the portion 20 of the drum member 6.
- the head 29 is housed in a seat 39 on the cup 4 and has, suitably spaced apart along an annular path followed by the cylinders 7 'revolving rigidly with the drum member, an intake port 40, a hole 41a for a spark plug 41, and an exhaust port 42, which are brought to overlie each cylinder sequentially during the revolving movement of the latter.
- a collar 46 accomodating first and second bearings on its interior, as indicated respectively at 47 and 48, the first bearing supporting the shaft 22 through an intervening flange 49 keyed to the shaft 22 and constituting a power take-off for the engine according to the invention, and the second bearing supporting the same shaft 22 and through a flanged sleeve 50 which is keyed to the shaft 22 and whereto the drum 6 abuts and is locked axially.
- the sleeve 50 has an annular ridge 51 extending coaxial with the shaft 22 and abutting against a shoulder 52 on the latter and an annular flange 53 extending radially at an intermediate position on the sleeve bu.
- this is a four-cylinder engine wherein the cylinders are offset in diametrically opposed pairs on the drum member 6 such that whenever two of the pistons 11 are at their TDC, the other two pistons are at their BDC.
- the structure just described enables, in the engine according to the invention, the use of a single intake port 40, single exhaust port 42, and single spark plug hole in the head 29 to sequentially serve each cf the cylinders 7 as the latter revolve with respect to the head 29.
- the axial length of the sealing member 28 is such as not to interfere with piston rings present in piston ring grooves 55 in the piston 8.
- the piston arranges itself in the compression stroke due to the mesh engagement of the ring gear 19 with the gear 18 which drives rotatively the throw 10, until it reaches the TDC, as shown in Figure 4, when it underlies the hole 41a wherethrough the spark plug 41 will ignite the compressed mixture.
- That engine is referenced, for like details, with the same numerals previously used. It is generally indicated at 70 and comprises once again an engine case 2 wherein a drum member 6 is carried rotatably with cylinder 7-piston 8 assemblies and respective connecting rod 9 and throw 10 assemblies.
- the first and second cups making up the case 2 are guided slidably the one over the other.
- the cup 72 receives the cup 71 slidably and is provided with a perforated peripheral flange 73 wherein enlarged shank screws 74 are engaged slidably.
- the screws 74 are affixed to a counter-flange 75 on the cup 71.
- an elastic means comprised of coil springs 76 coaxial with the screws 74 and tending to keep one cup apart from the other.
- the compression ratio change in the cylinders is brought about by changing the position of the head 29 relatively to the cylinders 7, as obtainable thanks to the particular configuration of the engine 70 according to the invention and to the mobility of the elements 28 in the seat 27 and of the plate-like element 35, for whose details reference can be made to the preceding description.
- the means for changing the relative position between the head 29 and cylinders 7 comprise a linear actuator, generally indicated at 77, which is active between the head 29 and, through the shaft 78, the drum member 6.
- the actuator 77 comprises a fluid-operated cylinder 80 of annular configuration, coaxially encircling one end 79 of the shaft 78 which protrudes through the cup 72 outward of the engine 70.
- the cylinder 80 is provided with a piston 84 and is active between the cup 72 and a shoulder formed of a nut 82 threaded onto the end 79 of the shaft 78; between the piston 84 and shoulder 81, there is interposed a thrust bearing 83.
- the entire assembly 77 is then protected by a cap 86 attached to the cup 72.
- the fluid-operated cylinder 80 is in fluid communication with valving means, more particularly a distributor of fluid under pressure of a conventional design, generally indicated at 87.
- a drain conduit 88 leading to a reservoir 89 and a delivery conduit 90 for fluid under pressure on which there is provided a pump 91 drawing from the reservoir 89.
- the valving means 87 are driven through a control unit 92 connected to a pressure transducer 93.
- the pressure transducer 93 is positioned as follows: indicated at 100 being the path travelled by the centers of the revolving cylinders 7 relatively to the head 29, which path is schematically shown by a dash line, the pressure transducer 93 is affixed to the head with a read hole 94 open to the interior of the engine 70 in an area crossed by the path of the cylinders 7; the hole 94 is proximate the hole 41a but spaced apart from it such that a cylinder moving along the path 100 cannot simultaneously affect both the transducer 93 and spark plug 41.
- the transducer 93 is positioned, relatively to the spark plug 41 such that when one cylinder 7 is in tangent contact to enter the hole for the spark plug 41, the cylinder itself is in tangent contact to exit the read hole 94 of the transducer 93.
- the transducer 93 is never affected by the cylinders 7 on the mix drawn into them being ignited by the spark plug 41.
- the engine 70 operates as follows: the transducer 93 reads through the hole 94 the compression pressure in the cylinders 7 as the latter move past below it and sends a corresponding signal to the control unit 92.
- the control unit 92 compares the oncoming signal to a preset reference value, e.g. one which optimizes the thermal output of the engine 70; if that signal is below the reference value, it acts on the valving means 87 to hydraulically communicate the cylinder 80 with the conduit 90 for the fluid under pressure.
- the fluid under pressure on reaching the cylinder 80, activate the latter to operate, thus producing a thrust action between the head 29 and shaft 78 with consequent approaching of the head to the drum 6 and increase of the compression ratio in the cylinders.
- the valving means 87 are commanded to move into fluid communication the drain conduit 88 with the cylinder 80 to allow retraction of the piston 84 thereof and, hence, removal of the head 29 from the drum 6 to decrease the compression ratio in the cylinders.
- the volumetric fill of the cylinders is modulated by a throttle valve or the like known means for varying the throat of a carburator placed at the intake port.
- the engine of this invention advantageously allows manipulation of the compression ratio in the cylinders to achieve an optimum thermal output for each volumetric fill value of the same.
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Other Liquid Machine Or Engine Such As Wave Power Use (AREA)
- Lubrication Of Internal Combustion Engines (AREA)
- Valve-Gear Or Valve Arrangements (AREA)
- Combustion Methods Of Internal-Combustion Engines (AREA)
Abstract
In a reciprocating engine, a drum member is carried rotatably within acase; arranged in the drum at regular intervals are a plurality of cylinder/piston assemblies and corresponding connecting rod/crankshaft throw assemblies. A gear wheel is affixed to the case and is mesh engaged for a rolling mevement by gear wheels keyed to each crankshaft throw, according to the invention, the engine includes a cylinder head rigid with the case and relatively whereto the drum member is rotatable, seal means interposed to the cylinder head and cylinders, and fuel intake and exhaust means affixed to the cylinder head and serving sequentially the cylinders.
Description
- This invention relates to a reciprocating engine with revolving cylinders of the type comprising an engine case, a drum member supported rotatably within the engine case, a plurality of cylinder/piston assemblies and a corresponding plurality of connecting rod/ crankshaft throw assemblies, arraged at regular intervals in the said drum member, a gear wheel keyed to each crankshaft throw and meshing with a ring gear in rolling relationship therewith, said ring gear being affixed to the engine case.
- Engines of the above type would benefit from a simplification and an improvement of the cylinder fuel intake/exhaust system, which is complicated by that, jn operation, the cylinders revolve relatively to a stationary engine case.
- UK Patent No. 140,537, for example, discloses an internal combustion engine which operates on a two-stroke cycle wherein the fuel charge to the cylinders is taken through a hollow central shaft branching off at its base toward appropriate intake ports, whilst the burned gases are exhausted directly to the atmosphere.
- That engine, in fact, includes a plurality of cylinder/piston assemblies which are structurally independent of one another as regards their fuel intake, exhaust, and ignition arrangements, and are each closed at the top by a separate cylinder head accomodating a spark plug.
- Due to its design, such an engine would hardly operate on some thermodynamic cycle other than the two-stroke cycle. Further, while its fuel intake system may be unitised, that engine defies unitising of the exhaust and ignition systems.
- The aim underlying this invention is that of obviating the above limitations by providing a reciprocating engine with revolving cylinders which can operate on any selected thermodynamic cycle, whether endo- or exothermal, and has unitised fuel intake, exhaust, and ignition (if any) systems which are left stationary while the cylinders are revolved.
- This problem is solved by a reciprocating engine with revolving cylinders as indicated, and according to the characterising part of
Claim 1. - Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of a reciprocating engine with revolving cylinders, given reference to the accompanying illustrative and not limitative drawings, in which:
- Figure 1 is a fragmentary, axial section twiew showing diagramatically the reciprocating engine of this invention;
- Figure 2 is a top plan view of the same engine showing diagramatically the arrangement of the intake and exhaust ports, and of the spark plug in the cylinder head;
- Figure 3 is a top plan view showing the engine of this invention in ghost lines;
- Figure 4 and 5 are cross-sectional views of the engine according to the invention illustrating the operation thereof and .
- Figure 6 to 8 show diagramatically an improved embodiment of the engine according to the invention, as respectively depicted generally in Figure 6 with the engine case cut away, in detail and to an enlarged scale in the longitudinal section of Figure 7, and in a bottom plan view of the head in Figure 8.
- With reference to the cited drawing figures, and in particular to Figure 1, a reciprocating engine according to the invention is generally designated with the
reference numeral 1, and comprises anengine case 2 formed of first andsecond cups screws 5; mounted rotatably within theengine case 2 is adrum member 6 having a plurality ofcylinder 7/piston 8 assemblies arranged therein and a corresponding plurality of connectingrod 9/crankshaft throw 10 assemblies each attached to a respective piston by means of agudgeon pin 11. - The crankshaft throws 10 are identical to one another and consist of a pair of
crank arms 11a and 11b, respectively, justapposed and interconnected by acrank pin 12 on which the big end 9a of the connectingrod 9 is journalled; the crank arms are respectively rigid with first and second crankshaft journals indicated at 13 and 14, respectively received rotatbly in first and second crankshaft bearings, indicated at 15 and 16. - At the remote end of the
crankshaft journal 14 from thecrank arm 11b there is keyed therteto abevel gear 18 meshing in rolling relationship with abevel ring gear 19 fast with thefirst cup 3. - The drum member comprises first and
second portions 20 and 21, respectively, which are attached to each other and both keyed coaxially to ashaft 22. - The
first portion 20 has a plurality of bores parallel to theshaft 22 wherein the cylinder liners are mounted, the second portion 21 being formed with a corresponding plurality of hollow lobes 23 wherein thethrows 10 are housed. - Each of the
cylinders 7 includes aliner 25 forming, at the remote end thereof to thecorresponding throw 10, an annular ridge 26 which definesa-seat 27 on the interior of theliner 25.. In theseat 27 is housed anannular seal member 28 which is slidable in the axial direction of theliner 25 and which is in constant fretting contact with acylinder head 29 for thecylinders 7 attached to thesecond cup 4. - The
seal member 28 is spring biased against thehead 29 by aspring 30 reacting on a shoulder 31 of theseat 27, and has a pair of grooves forsealing rings 32 for engagement with theseat 27 in gas-tight relationship. - On the outside, i.e. oppositely located with respect to the shoulder 31, the annular ridge 26 is made to bear on the
portion 20 of the drum member. - Between the annular ridge 26 and the
cylinder head 29 there intervenes, located on thecylinders 7, a plate-like element 35 which is perforated at the cylinder locations to allow for unrestricted sliding movement of theseal members 28.Element 35 is tightly fitted to the corresponding annular ridges 26 by means ofseal rings 36. The plate-like element 35 is urged elastically against thehead 29 by aspring 37 encircling theshaft 22 and reacting against aspacer 38 coaxial with said shaft and bearing on theportion 20 of thedrum member 6. - With reference to Figures 1 and 2, the
head 29 is housed in aseat 39 on thecup 4 and has, suitably spaced apart along an annular path followed by the cylinders 7 'revolving rigidly with the drum member, anintake port 40, ahole 41a for a spark plug 41, and anexhaust port 42, which are brought to overlie each cylinder sequentially during the revolving movement of the latter. - Centrally on the
head 29, there is accomodated a bearing 43 supporting one end of theshaft 22, the other end thereof is supported on thefirst cup 3 of thecase 2. - More specifically, formed on the
first cup 3 is acollar 46 accomodating first and second bearings on its interior, as indicated respectively at 47 and 48, the first bearing supporting theshaft 22 through an interveningflange 49 keyed to theshaft 22 and constituting a power take-off for the engine according to the invention, and the second bearing supporting thesame shaft 22 and through aflanged sleeve 50 which is keyed to theshaft 22 and whereto thedrum 6 abuts and is locked axially. - More precisely, the
sleeve 50 has an annular ridge 51 extending coaxial with theshaft 22 and abutting against ashoulder 52 on the latter and an annular flange 53 extending radially at an intermediate position on the sleeve bu. - With reference to Figures 3 to 5, the operation of the engine according to the invention will be now described; this is a four-cylinder engine wherein the cylinders are offset in diametrically opposed pairs on the
drum member 6 such that whenever two of thepistons 11 are at their TDC, the other two pistons are at their BDC. - The structure just described enables, in the engine according to the invention, the use of a
single intake port 40,single exhaust port 42, and single spark plug hole in thehead 29 to sequentially serve each cf thecylinders 7 as the latter revolve with respect to thehead 29. - More precisely, at each upward or downward stroke of the
piston 8, thejournals bearings gear 18 meshing with thering gear 19. Thegears 18, therefore, will roll around thering gear 19 and entrain thedrum member 6 rotatively; during that rotation relatively to thecase 2, and hence, to thehead 29, thecylinders 7 are sealed in a gas-tight fashion by the sealingmembers 28 as biased by thespring 30 against thehead 29 in fretting contact therewith. - It should be noted that the axial length of the sealing
member 28 is such as not to interfere with piston rings present inpiston ring grooves 55 in thepiston 8. - Any gas leakage past the
seat 27 and sealingmember 28 is prevented by theseal rings 32, and any seepage of compressed gas past thehead 29 and sealingmember 28 would be prevented by thering 36 and plate-like element 35 spring biased against thecylinder head 29. - On one of the
pistons 8 reaching theintake port 40, a downward stroke begins in thecorresponding cylinder 7 to take in a charge of fuel mix; the cited piston and the symmetrically opposed one are, therefore, arranged in the condition shown in Figure 5, i.e. at their BDC. - As rotation continues, the piston arranges itself in the compression stroke due to the mesh engagement of the
ring gear 19 with thegear 18 which drives rotatively thethrow 10, until it reaches the TDC, as shown in Figure 4, when it underlies thehole 41a wherethrough the spark plug 41 will ignite the compressed mixture. - As the relative rotation between the
cylinders 7 andhead 29 continues, the same piston moves down toward the BDC owing to the combustion which took place in its cylinder until it reaches theport 42 where it exhausts the now expanded combustion gases, to move back up toward the TDC. - The engine illustrated in the preceding description lends itself advantageously to automatic adjustement of the compression ratio in the cylinders both statically and while in operation.
- Particularly in Figures 6 to 8, there is shown diagramatically an internal combustion engine featuring continuous adjustement of the compression ratio according to the compression pressure in the cylinders.
- That engine is referenced, for like details, with the same numerals previously used. It is generally indicated at 70 and comprises once again an
engine case 2 wherein adrum member 6 is carried rotatably with cylinder 7-piston 8 assemblies and respective connectingrod 9 and throw 10 assemblies. - Differently from the
previous engine 1, the first and second cups making up thecase 2, as respectively indicated at 71 and 72, are guided slidably the one over the other. Thecup 72 receives thecup 71 slidably and is provided with a perforatedperipheral flange 73 wherein enlargedshank screws 74 are engaged slidably. Thescrews 74 are affixed to acounter-flange 75 on thecup 71. - Provided between the
flange 73 and counter-flange 75is an elastic means comprised ofcoil springs 76 coaxial with thescrews 74 and tending to keep one cup apart from the other. - The compression ratio change in the cylinders is brought about by changing the position of the
head 29 relatively to thecylinders 7, as obtainable thanks to the particular configuration of theengine 70 according to the invention and to the mobility of theelements 28 in theseat 27 and of the plate-like element 35, for whose details reference can be made to the preceding description. - In the
engine 70, the means for changing the relative position between thehead 29 andcylinders 7 comprise a linear actuator, generally indicated at 77, which is active between thehead 29 and, through theshaft 78, thedrum member 6. - The
actuator 77 comprises a fluid-operatedcylinder 80 of annular configuration, coaxially encircling oneend 79 of theshaft 78 which protrudes through thecup 72 outward of theengine 70. Thecylinder 80 is provided with apiston 84 and is active between thecup 72 and a shoulder formed of anut 82 threaded onto theend 79 of theshaft 78; between thepiston 84 andshoulder 81, there is interposed a thrust bearing 83. - The
entire assembly 77 is then protected by acap 86 attached to thecup 72. - The fluid-operated
cylinder 80 is in fluid communication with valving means, more particularly a distributor of fluid under pressure of a conventional design, generally indicated at 87. - From the
distributor 87 are extended adrain conduit 88 leading to a reservoir 89 and adelivery conduit 90 for fluid under pressure on which there is provided apump 91 drawing from the reservoir 89. - The valving means 87 are driven through a
control unit 92 connected to apressure transducer 93. - With reference to Figure 8, the
pressure transducer 93 is positioned as follows: indicated at 100 being the path travelled by the centers of the revolvingcylinders 7 relatively to thehead 29, which path is schematically shown by a dash line, thepressure transducer 93 is affixed to the head with aread hole 94 open to the interior of theengine 70 in an area crossed by the path of thecylinders 7; thehole 94 is proximate thehole 41a but spaced apart from it such that a cylinder moving along thepath 100 cannot simultaneously affect both thetransducer 93 and spark plug 41. - Advantageously, the
transducer 93 is positioned, relatively to the spark plug 41 such that when onecylinder 7 is in tangent contact to enter the hole for the spark plug 41, the cylinder itself is in tangent contact to exit theread hole 94 of thetransducer 93. - Thus, the
transducer 93 is never affected by thecylinders 7 on the mix drawn into them being ignited by the spark plug 41. - The
engine 70 operates as follows: thetransducer 93 reads through thehole 94 the compression pressure in thecylinders 7 as the latter move past below it and sends a corresponding signal to thecontrol unit 92. Thecontrol unit 92 compares the oncoming signal to a preset reference value, e.g. one which optimizes the thermal output of theengine 70; if that signal is below the reference value, it acts on the valving means 87 to hydraulically communicate thecylinder 80 with theconduit 90 for the fluid under pressure. The fluid under pressure, on reaching thecylinder 80, activate the latter to operate, thus producing a thrust action between thehead 29 andshaft 78 with consequent approaching of the head to thedrum 6 and increase of the compression ratio in the cylinders. - If the value of the signal detected by the
transducer 93 is above the reference value preset in thecontrol unit 92, then the valving means 87 are commanded to move into fluid communication thedrain conduit 88 with thecylinder 80 to allow retraction of thepiston 84 thereof and, hence, removal of thehead 29 from thedrum 6 to decrease the compression ratio in the cylinders. - This is specially advantageous before the link between the thermal output of the engine and its compression ratio, as well as between the latter and the volumetric fill of the cylinders.
- The volumetric fill of the cylinders is modulated by a throttle valve or the like known means for varying the throat of a carburator placed at the intake port.
- By varying the magnitude of that throat one obtains, with conventional engines, a proportional variation in their thermal output. The engine of this invention advantageously allows manipulation of the compression ratio in the cylinders to achieve an optimum thermal output for each volumetric fill value of the same.
- Among the many advantages of the reciprocating engine according to the invention it is to be further pointed out that, thanks to the provision of a single spark plug serving several cylinders, the need for a distributor is eliminated. The same spark plug, controlled through standard breaker points, provides in fact, through one complete revolution of the engine, a number of ingitions equal to the number of the cylinders.
- The same applies to the engine exhaust and fuel intake in that they serve each cylinder in succesion as if they belonged exclusively to them.
Claims (5)
1. A reciprocating engine with revolving cylinders comprising an engine case (2), a drum member (6) supported rotatably within the engine case (2), a plurality of cylinder (7)/piston (8) assemblies and a corresponding plurality of connecting rod (9)/crankshaft throw (10) assemblies arranged at regular intervals in the said drum member (6), a gear wheel (18) keyed to each crankshaft throw (10) and meshing with a ring gear (19) in rolling relationship therewith, said ring gear 19 being affixed to the engine case, and characterised in that it comprises a cylinder head (29) bearing on the cylinders (7) and rigid with the engine case (2) , seal means (27, 28, 35) between said head (29) and said cylinders (7), and intake and exhaust means (40, 42) affixed to said cylinder head (29) and serving sequentially said cylinders (7).
2. An engine according to Claim 1, characterised in that said seal means comprise, in each of said cylinders (7), a seat (27) confronting said cylinder head (29) wherein an annular sealing member (28) is slidable in constant fretting contact with said cylinder head (29).
3. An engine according to Claim 1, characterised in that said seal means comprise a plate-like element (35) interposed between the cylinder head (29) and said drum member (6), perforated at and in tight sealed relationship with said cylinders (7), said plate-like element (35) being constantly biased into close contact with said cylinder head (29).
4. An engine according to Claim 1, characterised in that said cylinder head (29) is adjustably positionable relatively to the cylinders (7) to vary the compression ratio of said cylinder (7)/piston (8) assemblies.
5. An engine according to Claim 1, characterised in that it comprises an hydraulic cylinder (80) active between said head (29) and the drum member (6), a delivery and a drain conduits (90, 88) for delivering to and draining from the said cylinder (80) a pressurized fluid, valve means (92) on the said conduits (90, 88), a pressure transducer (93) in the said head (29) for sensing the compression pressure in said cylinder/ piston assemblies (7, 8) and a control unit (92) fed with a signal derived from said transducer 93 and driving the said valve means (87) to alternatively connect said hydraulic cylinder (80) to the drain or to the delivery conduits (90, 88).
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
IT20853/84A IT1173592B (en) | 1984-05-09 | 1984-05-09 | ALTERNATIVE ROTATING CYLINDER ENGINE |
IT2085384 | 1984-05-09 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0164317A1 true EP0164317A1 (en) | 1985-12-11 |
Family
ID=11173045
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP85830107A Withdrawn EP0164317A1 (en) | 1984-05-09 | 1985-05-08 | A reciprocating engine with revolving cylinders |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0164317A1 (en) |
JP (1) | JPS6128723A (en) |
IT (1) | IT1173592B (en) |
Cited By (4)
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WO1991015679A1 (en) * | 1990-04-11 | 1991-10-17 | Mohammad Mahdavi Hezavehi | Rotary corradial-vane compressor |
WO1991015660A1 (en) * | 1990-04-11 | 1991-10-17 | Mohammad Mahdavi Hezavehi | Rotary internal combustion engine (ric-engine) |
WO2003076777A1 (en) * | 2002-03-06 | 2003-09-18 | Tony Vallejos | Reciprocating and rotary internal combustion engine, compressor and pump |
CN107366573A (en) * | 2017-07-04 | 2017-11-21 | 贵州宝文电机科技有限公司 | Revolving cylinder engine |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
AU2008235223A1 (en) * | 2007-04-09 | 2008-10-16 | Michel Arseneau | Rotary engine |
Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US1405224A (en) * | 1920-04-29 | 1922-01-31 | John Garrigues | Engine |
DE581380C (en) * | 1929-12-14 | 1933-07-26 | Walker Brooks | Device for changing the compression chamber in internal combustion engines, in which the cylinders can be moved against the crankshaft to compensate for changes in pressure |
GB2116264A (en) * | 1982-03-05 | 1983-09-21 | Messier Hispano Sa | Hydraulic power transducer |
-
1984
- 1984-05-09 IT IT20853/84A patent/IT1173592B/en active
-
1985
- 1985-05-08 EP EP85830107A patent/EP0164317A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1985-05-09 JP JP9888585A patent/JPS6128723A/en active Pending
Patent Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US1405224A (en) * | 1920-04-29 | 1922-01-31 | John Garrigues | Engine |
DE581380C (en) * | 1929-12-14 | 1933-07-26 | Walker Brooks | Device for changing the compression chamber in internal combustion engines, in which the cylinders can be moved against the crankshaft to compensate for changes in pressure |
GB2116264A (en) * | 1982-03-05 | 1983-09-21 | Messier Hispano Sa | Hydraulic power transducer |
Cited By (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO1991015679A1 (en) * | 1990-04-11 | 1991-10-17 | Mohammad Mahdavi Hezavehi | Rotary corradial-vane compressor |
WO1991015660A1 (en) * | 1990-04-11 | 1991-10-17 | Mohammad Mahdavi Hezavehi | Rotary internal combustion engine (ric-engine) |
WO2003076777A1 (en) * | 2002-03-06 | 2003-09-18 | Tony Vallejos | Reciprocating and rotary internal combustion engine, compressor and pump |
US6672263B2 (en) * | 2002-03-06 | 2004-01-06 | Tony Vallejos | Reciprocating and rotary internal combustion engine, compressor and pump |
EP1488085A1 (en) * | 2002-03-06 | 2004-12-22 | Tony Vallejos | Reciprocating and rotary internal combustion engine, compressor and pump |
EP1488085A4 (en) * | 2002-03-06 | 2007-01-10 | Tony Vallejos | Reciprocating and rotary internal combustion engine, compressor and pump |
KR100987914B1 (en) | 2002-03-06 | 2010-10-18 | 토니 발레호스 | Reciprocating and rotary internal combustion engine, compressor and pump |
CN107366573A (en) * | 2017-07-04 | 2017-11-21 | 贵州宝文电机科技有限公司 | Revolving cylinder engine |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
IT8420853A0 (en) | 1984-05-09 |
IT8420853A1 (en) | 1985-11-09 |
IT1173592B (en) | 1987-06-24 |
JPS6128723A (en) | 1986-02-08 |
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